Shannon Stone, Texas Rangers fan, dies after falling at stadium

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A firefighter has been identified as the Texas Rangers fan who died after falling from the stands while reaching for a baseball tossed his way by All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton.

Emergency workers tend to the fan that fell over a railing at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. (Photo: Associated Press)

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office said Friday the victim was 39-year-old Shannon Stone of Brownwood. City Manager Bobby Rountree says Stone had been a firefighter for nearly 18 years in Brownwood, located 150 miles southwest of Arlington.

Stone fell about 20 feet onto concrete Thursday night, tumbling over the left-field railing after catching the ball and falling into an area out of sight from the field as the Rangers faced Oakland. Stone's young son witnessed the fall during the second inning.

A man says he tried to grab a fan to keep him from falling, but he couldn't.

Ronnie Hargis says he watched as the man reached out for a baseball tossed his way by All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton, but the man he had sat next to tumbled over the outfield railing after catching the ball and fell about 20 feet onto concrete.

Witnesses say the man was conscious after the fall, but fire department officials say he went into full cardiac arrest while on the way to the hospital. That's where he was pronounced dead.

The A's team president Nolan Ryan said "we're very heavy-hearted" about this.